Bryce Harper hasn't yet committed to a team -- as Phillies fans are well aware of -- but it sounds like his former team has dropped out of the race.
Lerner's comments leave some wiggle room, but the main message is clear -- barring a last-second miracle, Harper is not going back to the Nationals. With the Nationals out, the race for Harper seems to be down to the Phillies, San Francisco Giants and the San Diego Padres.
Despite some rumors that Harper might not want to play in Philadelphia, Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia told the 94WIP Midday Show earlier this week that is simply not true.
"I do believe it's all about money," Salisbury said on Thursday. "I've heard the reports and the rumble that he doesn't want to play in Philadelphia. I've asked people that are very, very close to him if that's true and they say that it's not true. We'll see."
Salisbury says the Phillies are aware of the backlash that will come from the fans if they do not land Harper.
"Right now all of the focus is on Harper," Salisbury said of the Phillies. "(The Phillies) are aware there is enormous public pressure to do something. I think they are very much aware of the 326 number, which would beat the Stanton guarantee."
According to Jon Morosi of the MLB Network, it appears the Nationals are out of the race. Salisbury says the "great unknown and probably the key question of this whole thing," is who is competing agains the Phillies. The Phillies, according to Salisbury, are really cautious in competing against themselves.
"Some teams have flat out said they are out of it, I just don't know if you can ever count someone out of it until he's signed, sealed, and delivered," said Salisbury.